Not only did No. 25 NC State baseball enjoy a 4-1 series-sweeping win over No. 2 Clemson Saturday afternoon, but it also celebrated the second annual Victory Over Cancer game.

Led by head coach Elliott Avent and former Wolfpack shortstop turned MLB All-Star Trea Turner, Victory Over Cancer is a cause personal to Avent, inspired by other great NC State coaches such as Kay Yow and Jim Valvano, aimed at raising money for pediatric cancer research.

NC State invited families and children affected by cancer to the game. They played catch with the players and ran the bases after the Pack’s victory. Brady, a child who just rang the bell for completing treatment for Leukemia, threw out the first pitch.

“Just to see those smiles on those kids’ faces down there, to see the kid throw out the first pitch, the strike,” Avent said. “It’s unreal. It’s what it’s all about in life.”

Avent is now a part of a storied NC State legacy of supporting cancer research and other critical community outreach programs. Avent was inspired by legendary figures like Yow and Valvano, who pioneered similar fundraising programs at the University.

“Here are two icons that created so much money for cancer research and breast cancer research,” Avent said. “It just hit me before I leave here, why don’t I get that started here and now we’ll tie in children’s cancer research, breast cancer research and Jimmy V, the foundation that he started.”

Avent also talked about his aims to grow the special event into a game that every college baseball team across the country takes part in every year.

“I’m hoping that I’ll be sitting at the beach one day in about 10 years and this game is so huge. Not [just] here, but every division I, II and III team in the country, I think, will be playing a game for pediatric cancer research,” Avent said.

What the Wolfpack did to Clemson in its series sweep over the Tigers was special too. For the first time this season, NC State baseball looks to be playing up to its preseason hype.

“This was the first weekend the entire season we’ve played a complete game in all aspects of the game,” Avent said. “We played as good as we can play for three days in a row, and that’s hard to do.”

The most complete aspect of the Wolfpack’s game was its pitching. In all three games, only two pitchers were used in each contest. In the sweep-clinching win, sophomore starter Ryan Marohn threw eight innings, allowing just one run on five hits.

“I just went out there with confidence,” Marohn said. “I was able to find my groove. I was able to command my pitches really well, and all four of them, the curveball especially, was better than it had been in the past.”

This afternoon marked the third-straight game Marohn has gone at least six innings while allowing one run or less.

“He’s tough,” Avent said. “That’s why they call him money Marohn.”

Marohn’s run support came courtesy of a lineup hitting its stride at just the right time in the season. After crushing a clutch home run in the Pack’s series-winning victory over Clemson the day before, sophomore catcher Alex Sosa launched a two-run shot over the wall that broke a sixth-inning deadlock between the two ACC powerhouses.

After adding an additional insurance run in the eighth, sophomore closer Jacob Dudan threw 12 straight sliders to strike out the side in the top of the ninth. Over Dudan’s last nine appearances, he hasn’t allowed a run with 20 strikeouts.

“The slider has been working,” Dudan said. “Next pitch I’m like ‘I have a feeling slider is coming’ and yeah I’m right.”

On Wednesday, Dudan met a young man named Isaac battling cancer and hung out with him during the team’s entire practice. On Saturday, Isaac was in the stands watching, and Dudan knew he had to put on a show for him.

“It’s very meaningful,” Dudan said. “I knew he was out there in the stands watching. It was pretty special.”

Sunday’s victory marks the Pack’s 30th win of the season and second straight ACC series sweep. NC State will gear up for a midweek game with UNC-Wilmington in Raleigh before heading down to Coral Gables, Florida for a series with Miami.

First pitch against the Seahawks on Tuesday is set for 6 p.m. at Doak Field.